Of all the LSU players who have the best feel for the kind of mentality the majority of Wisconsin's players will bring to the field Saturday at NRG Stadium, the two most familiar with the Big Ten and Midwest football are Christian LaCouture and Ethan Pocic.

Heck for a few years, LaCouture fell squarely under the heading 'corn fed' when he was staring at Southwest High in Lincoln, Neb.

So the kid of a military mom who has lived in a dozen places ranging from Maine to Odessa, Texas, knows the kind of challenge the Badgers present.

"Teams from up there always have bigger offensive linemen and they're more a running type of team," LaCouture said Monday. "We want to prepare for all the formations we might see, but we know whatever they do, it's going to be physical."

"The Big Ten teams love to run the ball, and if you can stop that, it's great for the defense," said LaCouture, who will be one of the two starting defensive tackles. "I'm excited. It's a challenge as a defense and we love challenges."

Same seems to apply on the other side of the ball as well.

The Badger defense was stingy against the run, allowing only 3.2 yards per carry and 102.5 yards per game.

That's a challenge the LSU offense is likely champing at the bit to test. Fullback Conner Neighbors said the idea is "throw all the fancy stuff out the window."

"Their front seven has some big guys, and they like to hit people in the mouth just as much as we do," Neighbors said.

"It's just pure football. Who's going to be the bigger man - who wants to win more - and those are the type of games that you want to play in."